Daunte Wright’s father got emotional on the stand Wednesday as he recounted stories about his son in front of jurors during former cop Kim Potter’s trial, ABC News reported.  

RELATED: Kim Potter Trial: Daunte Wright’s Mother Recalls Finding Out He Died 

Arbuey Wright, 42, was brought into the trial as a “spark of life” witness and the last for the state. Arbuey Wright characterized his son as a jokester and loving father who enjoyed playing basketball, eating chicken at family cookouts and helping raise his two younger sisters, Diamond and Destinee. 

“We had a close relationship. He was me and my wife’s first child,” Arbuey Wright said, his voice cracking. He added: “I miss him a lot. Every day.” 

A state Supreme Court case in 1985 made Minnesota one of the unique states which allows personal and often emotional testimony from loved ones of an alleged crime victim in advance of a verdict. Most states reserve emotional testimony for the victim impact statements at sentencing if there is a conviction. 

The spark of life testimony was utilized in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin earlier this year, when George Floyd’s brother took the stand to give more details about Floyd’s life story.  

RELATED: Attorney Plans to Argue Shooting of Daunte Wright Was ‘Innocent Mistake’ 

The prosecution also showed jurors a photo of Daunte Wright holding his infant son, Daunte Jr., who is now 2 years old, in their opening statement.  

“To see him as a father, it was like, I was so happy for him, because he was so happy. He was so happy about Junior. It was my chance to be a grandfather,” Arbuey Wright said in response. “He loved his son.” 

After Wright’s emotional testimony about his son, the defense turned down the opportunity to cross-examine the father of the victim. The prosecution rested today, and the defense will possibly start to call witnesses to the stand. 

Katie Bryant, Daunte Wright’s mother, and Daunte Wright’s girlfriend, Alayna Albrecht-Payton, are among the prosecution’s witnesses who testified at the trial.  

Potter is currently being charged with first-degree and second-degree manslaughter. The former police officer entered a plea of not guilty on both charges. Potter’s lawyers alleged that she meant take out her Taser, and instead grabbed her gun. Upon grabbing her gun, she fatally shot Daunte Wright, claiming she was justified in her use of force.  

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